PERCEPTION OF RISK AND BENEFITS OF URBAN NATURAL GAS AND OIL WELLS: A CASE STUDY OF BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, OHIO

In 2005 the Ohio General Assembly passed House Bill 278, which centralized all control of siting and permitting of oil and gas wells under the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, removing a community’s ability to zone the activity. Advancements in technology and higher prices for the commodities have increased interest and incentive to access natural gas and oil from previously untapped areas and deep shale deposits. The change in the law resulted in an increase in development of natural gas and oil deposits from urban areas in Northeast Ohio. This thesis assesses public perception of urban oil and gas drilling in Broadview Heights, Ohio, a Cleveland area suburb that has seen a significant increase in oil and gas drilling within residential areas of the city. The survey assesses the personal risk-benefit perception of residents and shows that respondents have a high degree of awareness of centralized permitting and the implications for their community, although there are varying opinions about the impact of urban drilling on Broadview Heights.